Film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus, blood pressure measuring apparatus using the same, cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus, and personal authentication apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is a film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus configured in a such a way that a plurality of metallic thin film electrodes and a circuit unit are formed on a film-type piezoelectric element so as to easily attach the apparatus to the skin and an electrical signal as well as an electrical signal of a human body is simultaneously measured using the plurality of metallic thin film electrodes and the circuit unit. Accordingly, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus simultaneously measures electrocardiogram (ECG) and ballistocardiogram (BCG) from the simultaneously measured electrical signal and vibration signal of the human body and extracts biomedical information of various types of health indexes such as a heart rate, a stress index, BCG, a blood pressure, an amount of physical activity, a respiration rate, and VO 2 max from the two different biomedical signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate toa film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus, and moreparticularly, to a film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus thatis configured in the form of a film to be easily attached to skin and tosimultaneously measure two or more biomedical signals, a blood-pressuremeasuring apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure using thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus, a new-typecardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus and method for estimating acardiopulmonary fitness index using the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus, and a personal authentication apparatus and methodfor determining whether a user is authenticated using the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

For health examination of ordinary people as well as patients andelderly people, various biomedical signals such as electrocardiogram(ECG), ballistocardiogram (BCG), blood pressure, the amount of physicalactivity, a respiration rate, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) arerequired. However, most typical biomedical signal measuring apparatusare configured to separately measure these biomedical signals.

For example, an ECG measuring apparatus measures ECG by measuring anelectrical signal of beating heart. In this regard, the ECG measuringapparatus is generally configured to measure an electrical signal ofbeating heart above the skin and has been widely used in hospitals. Inhospitals, distortion, etc. of waveforms of ECG signals are analyzed todetermine whether the heart is abnormal, and heat reaction according tovarious health indexes, for example, stress and motion load are checkedsimply using a heart rate. For ECG measurement, at least threeelectrodes up to 10 electrodes are attached onto a skin surface so as tomeasure ECG. In general, when ECG is measured using three electrodes,one electrode is used as a reference electrode and a potentialdifference between the remaining two electrodes is measured so as tomeasure ECG

In addition, a BCG measuring apparatus measures physical reaction forceof blood squirted during heartbeat on a skin surface to measure BCG, andbiomedical indexes that is not present in ECG can be checked based onBCG. Accordingly, the BCG measuring apparatus have continuously receivedconsiderable attention by biomedical related researchers. For BCGmeasurement, BCG is measured by positioning a piezoelectric elementbetween one part of a body, for example, sole and buttocks and a floorthat contacts the body part and acquiring vertical vibration of the bodyaccording to blood flow as an electrical signal or positioning anacceleration sensor on the skin surface and measuring reaction of thebody according to action of blood.

In addition, a body motion measuring apparatus measures body motion byquantitatively measuring a degree of movement of an acceleration sensorattached to each part such as an arm and a leg of the body to analyzethe amount of physical activity, calorie consumption, step number, andso on. That is, the body motion measuring apparatus measures body motionby analyzing vibration of each part of the body according to bodymotion.

However, there are problems in that, an typical ECG measuring apparatushas a large size and a large number of wires, and thus it is cumbersometo use the apparatus and it is difficult to use the apparatus duringmovement, and even if the apparatus has a simple configuration, theapparatus is put around the chest in the form of a belt, and thus it isinconvenient to use the apparatus.

A typical BCG measuring apparatus measures BCG by positioning a wide andstiff paper type piezoelectric sensor on a wide body part such as a gapbetween buttock and a chair, between back and a chair, and between backand a bed or positioning a load cell type weight measuring sensorbetween a bed leg and the ground or in a weight scale, and thus there isa problem in that it is difficult to use the BCG measuring apparatuslike the ECG measuring apparatus.

Most typical biomedical signal measuring apparatuses measure only one ofbiomedical signals such as ECG or BCG to provide only simpleinformation, and thus there is a problem in that apparatuses accordingto respective biomedical signals need to be separately used to measureeach biomedical signal.

In addition, among typical biomedical signal measuring apparatus, thereis an apparatus for measuring a plurality of biomedical signals. Thereis a problem in that it is impossible to derive additional healthinformation even if the apparatus for measuring a plurality ofbiomedical signals is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus that is configured in the form of a film so as to be easilyattached to the skin and simultaneously measures two or more biomedicalsignals.

The present invention also provides an apparatus and method formeasuring a blood pressure, for continuously measuring a blood pressurewithout limits of places using a film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus that is configured in the form of a film so as to be easilyattached to the skin and simultaneously measures an ECG signal and a BCGsignal.

The present invention also provides a new type apparatus and method forestimating cardiopulmonary fitness, for very simply estimating acardiopulmonary fitness index during a daily life using a film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus that is configured in the form ofa film so as to be easily attached to the skin and simultaneouslymeasures an ECG signal and a BCG signal.

The present invention also provides a personal authentication apparatusand method for determining whether a user is authenticated using afilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus that is configured inthe form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skin andsimultaneously measures an ECG signal and a BCG signal.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus includes a film-type piezoelectric element, aplurality of metallic thin film electrodes formed on the piezoelectricelement, a first circuit unit for measuring a biomedical evokedpotential from at least two of the plurality of metallic thin filmelectrodes, and a second circuit unit for measuring a biomedical evokedvibration signal from at least two of the plurality of metallic thinfilm electrodes.

A blood pressure measuring apparatus using the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus according to the present invention mayinclude the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus and a bloodpressure calculator for calculating a blood pressure using the ECGsignal and the BCG signal that are measured by the first circuit unitand the second circuit unit, respectively.

A method for measuring a blood pressure using a film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus according to the present invention mayinclude simultaneously measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and aballistocardiogram (BCG) signal, deriving an R-peak value of thesimultaneously measured ECG signal and a J-peak value of thesimultaneously measured BCG signal, deriving an R-J time intervalbetween the derived R-peak value and J-peak value, and calculating theblood pressuring using the derived R-J time interval and a pre-storedblood pressure estimation regression equation for each user.

A cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus using a film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus according to the present inventionmay include the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus, and acardiopulmonary fitness index estimator for estimating a cardiopulmonaryfitness index using the ECG signal measured by the first circuit unitand the vibration signal measured by the second circuit unit.

A method for estimating cardiopulmonary fitness using a film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus according to the present inventionmay include calculating and storing a heart rate and an amount ofphysical activity from the simultaneously and continuously measured ECGsignal and human body motion signal, respectively at each unit time,extracting heart rate and amount of physical activity data in a periodin which the heart rate increases from the stored heart rate and amountof physical activity data, detecting a regression equation between anamount of physical activity and a heart rate in which a period in whichthe heart rate increases using the extracted heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data, calculating maximum activity energy expenditureusing the detected regression equation, and calculating maximal oxygenuptake (VO₂max) using the calculated maximum activity energy expenditureand a pre-stored maximal oxygen uptake estimation regression equation.

A personal authentication apparatus using a film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus according to the present invention may include thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus, and a personalauthentication unit for determining whether a user is authenticatedusing the ECG signal and the BCG signal that are measured by the firstcircuit unit and the second circuit unit, respectively.

A personal authentication method using a film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus according to the present invention may includedetecting an ECG fiducial value and a BCG fiducial value of anauthentication target from the simultaneously ECG signal and BCG signal,respectively, and determining whether the user is authenticated bycomparing the detected ECG fiducial value and BCG fiducial value of theauthentication target with a pre-stored ECG fiducial value and BCGfiducial value of the registration, respectively.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to thepresent invention may be configured in such a way that a plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes and a circuit unit are formed on afilm-type piezoelectric element in order to measure a biomedical signal,and thus the overall configuration of the apparatus is very simple inthe form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skin of a humanbody and enhance usability convenience.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to thepresent invention may simultaneously measure a vibration signal as awell as an electrical signal of a human body using a plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes and a circuit unit that are formed on apiezoelectric element.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to thepresent invention may simultaneously measure ECG and BCG from thesimultaneously measured electrical signal and vibration signal of thehuman body and may extract biomedical information of various types ofhealth indexes such as a heart rate, a stress index, BCG, a bloodpressure, an amount of physical activity, a respiration rate, and VO₂maxfrom the two different biomedical signals.

According to an apparatus and method for measuring a blood pressureaccording to the present invention, the apparatus may be configured inthe form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skin and maymeasure a blood pressure using a film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus for simultaneously measuring an ECG signal and a BCG signal,and thus a blood pressure may be continuously measured without limits ofplaces.

According to an apparatus and method for estimating cardiopulmonaryfitness according to the present invention, the apparatus may beconfigured in the form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skinand may estimate a cardiopulmonary fitness index using a film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus for simultaneously measuring anECG signal and a BCG signal. Accordingly, a system and method formeasuring cardiopulmonary fitness according to the present invention mayeasily and simply estimate a cardiopulmonary fitness index during adaily life using the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus tobe easily attached to the skin, and thus personal physical health aswell as personal physical activity may be managed by continuouslymeasuring and managing a cardiopulmonary fitness index, thereby highlyhelping personal health maintenance.

According to a system and method for estimating cardiopulmonary fitnessaccording to the present invention, cardiopulmonary fitness is notnecessarily measured through intended sub-maximal exercise unlike aconventional measuring apparatus, and thus cardiopulmonary fitness ofpatients and elderly people as well as healthy people may also be easilyand safely measured.

A personal authentication apparatus and method according to the presentinvention may determine whether a user is authenticated using afilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus for simultaneouslymeasuring an ECG signal and a BCG signal, and thus whether the user isauthenticated may be determined by multiply using the ECG and the BCG,thereby enhancing the accuracy of personal authentication.

According to a personal authentication apparatus and method according tothe present invention, since whether a user is authenticated may bedetermined using a film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus thatis configured in the form of a film so as to be easily attached to theskin, the personal authentication apparatus may continuously determinewhether the user is authenticated in real time without limits of placeswhile being attached to the skin during a daily life, and thus thepersonal authentication apparatus may be used as a biomedicalsignal-based personal authentication sensor.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that that theeffects that could be achieved with the present invention are notlimited to what has been particularly described hereinabove and otheradvantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating a measuring apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic planview illustrating an attachment surface of a piezoelectric element, andFIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams illustrating a film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the measuringapparatus, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an attachmentsurface of a piezoelectric element, FIG. 5 is a schematic plan viewillustrating an opposite surface of the piezoelectric element, and FIG.6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a formation surface of asubstrate.

FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating an example of thefirst circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 8 a schematic circuit diagram illustrating an example of the secondcircuit unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are images of an example of a measuring apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is an imageof a state in which an attachment surface of a piezoelectric element isdirected upward, and FIG. 10 is an image of a state in which a formationsurface of a substrate is directed upward when the measuring apparatusfurther includes an opposite surface of a piezoelectric element or asubstrate.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a bloodpressure measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relation between an R-J timeinterval and a systolic blood pressure, FIGS. 13 to 15 are graphsillustrating a relation between an R-J time interval and a SBP, which isdifferent for each respective user, FIG. 16 is a schematic diagramillustrating a blood pressure measuring apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a schematic diagramillustrating a configuration of a blood pressure measuring apparatus formeasuring a BCG signal using an acceleration sensor according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cardiopulmonary fitnessestimating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating heart rate (HR (BPM),beat/min) and an amount of physical activity that are calculated andstored every one minute from continuously measured ECG signals andvibration signals, FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating detection of a linearregression equation by extracting only heart rate and amount of physicalactivity data in a period in which a heart rate increases, FIG. 21 is aschematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a cardiopulmonaryfitness measuring system according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configurationof a cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus for measuring a humanbody motion signal using only an acceleration sensor without using avibration signal of a piezoelectric element, according to an embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 23 is a schematic diagramillustrating a cardiopulmonary fitness measuring system that uses avibration signal of a piezoelectric element and further includes anacceleration sensor, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. and

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of apersonal authentication apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, FIG. 25 is a graph illustrating an example of ECGfiducial values detected from an ECG signal, FIG. 26 is a graphillustrating an example of BCG fiducial values detected from a BCGsignal, FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of apersonal authentication apparatus 350 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention, and FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating apersonal authentication apparatus for measuring a BCG signal using anacceleration sensor, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments,particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and describedin detail in the written description. However, this is not intended tolimit the present invention to particular modes of practice, and it isto be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that donot depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present inventionare encompassed in the present invention.

The present invention relates to a film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus configured in a such a way that a plurality of metallic thinfilm electrodes and a circuit unit are formed on a film-typepiezoelectric element so as to easily attach the apparatus to the skinand an electrical signal as well as an electrical signal of a human bodyis simultaneously measured using the plurality of metallic thin filmelectrodes and the circuit unit. Accordingly, the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus according to the present invention maysimultaneously measures electrocardiogram (ECG) and ballistocardiogram(BCG) from the simultaneously measured electrical signal and vibrationsignal of the human body and extract biomedical information of varioustypes of health indexes such as a heart rate, a stress index, BCG, ablood pressure, an amount of physical activity, a respiration rate, andVO₂max from the two different biomedical signals.

A film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention may include a film-typepiezoelectric element, at least two first metallic thin film electrodesformed on one surface (which is a surface attached to the skin formeasuring a biomedical signal, and hereinafter, referred to as an‘attachment surface’) of the film-type piezoelectric element so as notto be electrically connected to each other, a second metallic thin filmelectrode formed on another surface (which is an opposite surface of thesurface attached to the skin for measuring the biomedical signal, andhereinafter, referred to as an “opposite surface’) of the film-typepiezoelectric element, a first circuit unit, and a second circuit unit.

The piezoelectric element is a component that is formed of apiezoelectric material with a piezoelectric effect whereby electricalpolarization is caused on an external surface of a crystal when a forceis applied to solid. In this regard, when the piezoelectric element isinserted between metallic plates, sound, vibration, pressure, and so onmay be detected. For example, when a pressure is applied to thepiezoelectric element, electricity is generated in the piezoelectricelement. In this case, a pressure applied to the piezoelectric elementmay be measured by measuring change in electricity quantity, whichoccurs when pressure is applied to the piezoelectric element. Thepiezoelectric material uses a principle whereby a potential difference(voltage) is generated when pressure is applied to the material and maybe, for example, quartz, Rochelle slat, barium titanate (BaTiO), orartificial ceramic (PZT).

The present invention uses a piezoelectric element so as to measurepressure, vibration, and so on, which are detected from the skin of ahuman body, as well as an electrical signal of the human body, and inparticular, uses a film-type thin piezoelectric element and forms ametallic thin film electrode on an attachment surface of the film-typepiezoelectric element so as to easily attach the apparatus to the skinduring measurement of the biomedical signal.

According to the present invention, a plurality of, that is, at leasttwo independent first metallic thin film electrodes that are notelectrically connected to each other may be formed on an attachmentsurface of a piezoelectric element so as to measure pressure, vibration,and so on detected from the skin of a human body and to also measure anelectrical signal of the human body. Here, at least two first metallicthin film electrodes are formed on the attachment surface of thepiezoelectric element because a potential difference between at leasttwo electrodes needs to be measured in order to measure the electricalsignal of the human body. In addition, three or more first metallic thinfilm electrodes may be formed on the attachment surface of thepiezoelectric element in order to more precisely measure a biomedicalsignal such as electrocardiogram (ECG). For ECG measurement, a minimumof two electrodes need to be used in order to measure a potentialdifference at a minimum of two points of the human body in order tomeasure an electrical signal of a beating heart, and a minimum of 10electrodes may be used in order to more precisely measure ECG.Accordingly, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatusaccording to the present invention may be configured in such a way thatat least two first metallic thin film electrodes are formed on theattachment surface of the piezoelectric element

attachment surface, and the present invention is not limited to thenumber of the first metallic thin film electrodes.

According to the present invention, a second metallic thin filmelectrode may be formed on an opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement

opposite surface so as to measure pressure, vibration, and so on of ahuman body as well as an electrical signal of the human body. Ingeneral, in order to measure pressure, vibration, and so on, thepiezoelectric element needs to be position between metallic plates andchange in electricity quantity that occurs when a pressure is applied tothe piezoelectric element needs to be measured, and thus according tothe present invention, the second metallic thin film electrode may beformed on the opposite surface of the piezoelectric element

opposite surface. Here, electrodes between which piezoelectric elementsare positioned in order to measure pressure, vibration, and so on andthat face the second metallic thin film electrode may use at least oneof at least two first metallic thin film electrodes formed on theattachment surface of the piezoelectric element.

That is, in the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatusaccording to the present invention, a first metallic thin film electrodefor measuring an electrical signal and a first metallic thin filmelectrode for measuring pressure, vibration, and so on may be formed onthe attachment surface of the piezoelectric element. In this case, thefirst metallic thin film electrode for measuring pressure, vibration,and so on may also be used as a first metallic thin film electrode formeasuring the electrical signal. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto. Thus, the first metallic thin film electrode formeasuring pressure and so on may be formed separately from the firstmetallic thin film electrode for measuring the electrical signal, and inthis case, at least three first metallic thin film electrodes need to beformed on the attachment surface of the piezoelectric element.

According to the present invention, a first circuit unit and secondcircuit unit, for measuring a biomedical evoked potential and vibrationsignal of a human body from the first metallic thin film electrode andthe second metallic thin film electrode formed on the attachment surfaceof the piezoelectric element, may be formed on the opposite surface ofthe piezoelectric element. That is, the first circuit unit may measure abiomedical evoked potential of the human body and the second circuitunit may measure a biomedical evoked vibration signal of the human body.

The first circuit unit may be formed on the opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element so as to be electrically connected to at least onetwo of the first metallic thin film electrodes so as to measure apotential difference between the at least two first metallic thin filmelectrodes. In addition, when the first circuit unit is configured tomeasure a potential difference between the at least two of the firstmetallic thin film electrodes formed on the attachment surface of thepiezoelectric element, a biomedical evoked potential of a human body maybe measured from the potential difference so as to measure a biomedicalsignal such as ECG

The second circuit unit may be formed on the opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element so as to be electrically connected to at least oneof the first metallic thin film electrodes and the second metallic thinfilm electrode and may be configured to measure quantity of charge ofthe piezoelectric element from the at least one first metallic thin filmelectrode and the second metallic thin film electrode. In addition, whenthe second circuit unit is configured to measure quantity of charge ofthe piezoelectric element

quantity of charge, change in electricity quantity, which occurs whenpressure is applied to the piezoelectric element due to pressure,vibration, and so on of the human body, may be measured, andaccordingly, a biomedical evoked vibration signal of the human body maybe measured so as to measure a biomedical signal such as BCG, amount ofphysical activity, and so on. Here, the first metallic thin filmelectrode that is electrically connected to the second circuit unit maybe a reference electrode for measurement of quantity of charge of thepiezoelectric element along with the second metallic thin filmelectrode, and in this case, the first metallic thin film electrode as areference electrode may use all, some, or one of first metallic thinfilm electrodes formed on the attachment surface of the piezoelectricelement, and accordingly, the number of the first metallic thin filmelectrodes that are electrically connected to the second circuit unitmay be changed, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The at least two first metallic thin film electrodes and the firstcircuit unit may be electrically connected by a conductive materialfilled in a through hole formed in the piezoelectric element. Then thefirst metallic thin film electrode and the first circuit unit that arerespectively formed on the attachment surface and the opposite surfaceacross the piezoelectric element may be easily electrically connected toeach other. Here, the conductive material filled in the through hole maybe any material through which electricity passes, such as conductiveepoxy, metallic rivet, and soldering, but in particular, the conductivematerial may be conductive epoxy in consideration of the fact that thematerial is filled in the through hole formed in the film-typepiezoelectric element.

The at least one of the first metallic thin film electrodes and thesecond circuit unit may be electrically connected to each other by aconductive material filled in the through hole formed in thepiezoelectric element, and the second metallic thin film electrode andthe second circuit unit may be electrically connected to each other by ametallic thin film formed on an opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement. Then, the first metallic thin film electrode and the secondcircuit unit that are respectively formed on the attachment surface andthe opposite surface across the piezoelectric element may be easilyelectrically connected to each other by the conductive material filledin the through hole, and the second metallic thin film electrode and thesecond circuit unit formed on the same surface that is the oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element may be easily electricallyconnected to each other by a metallic thin film formed on the oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element. Here, the metallic thin film forelectrical connection between the second metallic thin film electrodeand the second circuit unit may be formed together when a metallic thinfilm pattern for configuring the first circuit unit and the secondcircuit unit may be formed, and the first metallic thin film electrodeand the second circuit unit may be electrically connected through theconductive material filled in the through hole, and alternatively thesecond circuit unit may be electrically connected to the first metallicthin film electrode through a through hole by connecting the secondcircuit unit to the first circuit unit that is electricallypre-connected to the first metallic thin film electrode by the metallicthin film.

The first circuit unit may include an operational amplifier (op-amp)disposed between any one of the first metallic thin film electrodes andanother one of the first metallic thin film electrodes so as to measurea potential difference between the two first metallic thin filmelectrodes that are electrically connected to each other.

The first circuit unit may be configured to simply measure a potentialdifference between the two first metallic thin film electrodes, andalternatively, when three or more first metallic thin film electrodesare formed on the attachment surface of the piezoelectric element, thefirst circuit unit may be configured to selectively measure a potentialdifference between two of the three or more first metallic thin filmelectrodes. Accordingly, an electrical signal of the human body may bemore precisely measured so as to more precisely measure a biomedicalsignal such as ECG

A film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention includes a film-type piezoelectricelement with one surface (hereinafter, referred to as an ‘attachmentsurface’) on which at least two first metallic thin film electrodesformed so as not to be electrically connected to each other and theother surface (hereinafter, referred to as an ‘opposite surface’) onwhich a second metallic thin film electrode is formed, and a film-typesubstrate with any surface (which is an adhesion surface adhered to thepiezoelectric element, and hereinafter, referred to as an ‘adhesionsurface’) that is adhered to the opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement, and a first circuit unit that is electrically connected to atleast two of the first metallic thin film electrodes and measures apotential difference between the at least two first metallic thin filmelectrodes, a third metallic thin film electrode electrically connectedto any one of the first metallic thin film electrodes, and a secondcircuit unit that is electrically connected to the second metallic thinfilm electrode and the third metallic thin film electrode so as tomeasure quantity of charge of the piezoelectric element from the firstmetallic thin film electrode, the third metallic thin film electrode,and the second metallic thin film electrode may be formed on anothersurface (which is an opposite surface of the adhesion surface, andhereinafter, referred to as a ‘formation surface’) of the film-typesubstrate.

That is, compared to the measuring apparatus according to the aboveembodiment in which the first metallic thin film electrode, the secondmetallic thin film electrode, the first circuit unit, and the secondcircuit unit are formed on the attachment surface and the oppositesurface of one piezoelectric element, the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude a separate film-type flexible substrate attached to the oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element, and the first metallic thin filmelectrode and the second metallic thin film electrode may be formed onthe attachment surface and the opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement, the remaining first circuit unit and second circuit unit may beformed on a formation surface of the substrate, and a third metallicthin film electrode electrically connected to at least one of firstmetallic thin film electrodes may be further formed on the formationsurface of the substrate.

According to the above measuring apparatus according to the presentembodiment, since one of two electrodes as reference electrodes formeasuring quantity of charge of the piezoelectric element may be atleast one first metallic thin film electrode formed on the attachmentsurface of the piezoelectric element that is electrically connected tothe third metallic thin film electrode and the third metallic thin filmelectrode that are formed on the formation surface of the substrate, andthe other may be the second metallic thin film electrode formed on theopposite surface of the piezoelectric element, the second metallic thinfilm electrode as one of the reference electrodes are surrounded betweenthe first metallic thin film electrode and third metallic thin filmelectrode as the other one of the reference electrodes, and for example,a sandwich-type shield structure may be achieved to accordingly removenoise piezoelectric element so as to more precisely measure the quantityof charge, and thus change in quantity of charge of the piezoelectricelement may be more sensitively measured according to pressure,vibration, and so on of the human body.

In the measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, thepiezoelectric element and the substrate may be adhered by adhesives ordouble-sided adhesive tapes, and another separate member may beinterposed between the piezoelectric element and the substrate in orderto insulate therebetween and maintain robustness, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

The at least two first metallic thin film electrodes and the firstcircuit unit may be electrically connected by a conductive materialfilled in a through hole formed on the piezoelectric element and thesubstrate, the at least one first metallic thin film electrode and thethird metallic thin film electrode may be electrically connected to eachother through a conductive material filled in a through hole formed onthe piezoelectric element and the substrate, the second metallic thinfilm electrode and the second circuit unit may be electrically connectedto each other through a conductive material filled in a through holeformed on the substrate, and the third metallic thin film electrode andthe second circuit unit may be electrically connected to each other by ametallic thin film formed on the other surface of the substrate.

In addition, the first circuit unit may be configured to selectivelymeasure a potential difference between the two first metallic thin filmelectrodes among the at least two first metallic thin film electrodes,as described above. The detailed description in the aforementionedembodiments is applied to a detailed description of the other componentsof the present embodiment.

A film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present invention may include a film-typepiezoelectric element with one surface (hereinafter, referred to as an‘attachment surface’) on which at least three metallic thin filmelectrodes are formed and another surface (hereinafter, referred to asan ‘opposite surface’) on which a second metallic thin film electrode isformed, and a film-type substrate with any surface (hereinafter,referred to as an ‘adhesion surface’) adhered to the opposite surface ofthe piezoelectric element, and a first circuit unit formed on anopposite surface (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘formation surface’) ofthe adhesion surface so as to be electrically connected to the remainingfirst metallic thin film electrodes except for any one of first metallicthin film electrodes so as to measure a potential difference between theremaining first metallic thin film electrodes, a third metallic thinfilm electrode formed on the formation surface so as to be electricallyconnected to any one of first metallic thin film electrodes, and asecond circuit unit formed on the formation surface so as to beelectrically connected to the second metallic thin film electrode andthe third metallic thin film electrode and configured to measure thequantity of charge of the piezoelectric element from the any one firstmetallic thin film electrode, the third metallic thin film electrode,and the second metallic thin film electrode may be formed on thesubstrate.

The first circuit unit may be electrically connected to the thirdmetallic thin film electrode and may be configured to measure apotential difference between the remaining first metallic thin filmelectrodes using the any one first metallic thin film electrode as areference electrode.

In the measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, at leastthree first metallic thin film electrodes may be formed on theattachment surface of the piezoelectric element, and the first circuitunit may measure a potential difference between the remaining firstmetallic thin film electrodes using any one of the at least three firstmetallic thin film electrodes as a reference electrode to accordinglyenable precise measurement, and accordingly, an electrical signal of ahuman body may be more precisely measured, thereby enhancing theaccuracy of ECG measurement.

The remaining first metallic thin film electrode and the first circuitunit may be electrically connected to each other through a conductivematerial filled in a through hole formed in the piezoelectric elementand the substrate, the any one first metallic thin film electrode andthe third metallic thin film electrode may be electrically connected toeach other through a conductive material filled in a through hole formedin the piezoelectric element and the substrate, the second metallic thinfilm electrode and the second circuit unit may be electrically connectedto each other through a conductive material filled in a through holeformed in the substrate, and the third metallic thin film electrode andthe first circuit unit, and the third metallic thin film electrode andthe second circuit unit may be electrically connected to each otherthrough a metallic thin film formed on the other one surface of thesubstrate.

In addition, the first circuit unit may be configured to selectivelymeasure a potential difference between two first metallic thin filmelectrodes among the remaining first metallic thin film electrodes, asdescribed above. The detailed description in the aforementionedembodiments is applied to a detailed description of the other componentsof the present embodiment.

In the measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment, thefirst circuit unit and the second circuit unit commonly uses one firstmetallic thin film electrode so as to be accordingly simplified, andsince the first metallic thin film electrode to be used as a firstcircuit unit may be electrically connected to the third metallic thinfilm electrode that is electrically connected to the first metallic thinfilm electrode, a metallic thin film for electrical connection betweenthe first circuit unit and the third metallic thin film electrode isformed without a separate through hole during formation of a metallicthin film pattern for formation of the first circuit unit and the secondcircuit unit on the formation surface of the substrate, therebyaccordingly simplifying the configuration and a manufacturing method.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention may further include an adhesivemember for easily attaching the attachment surface of the piezoelectricelement to the skin so as to be included in the attachment surface ofthe piezoelectric element or to surround the piezoelectric element orthe substrate. The adhesive member may be silicon, PDMS, or the like.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention may further include a storage unitfor storing signals measured by the first circuit unit and the secondcircuit unit and a transmitter for transmitting the signal out of themeasuring apparatus. Here, the transmitter may be configured by wire,wirelessly, or wired/wireless.

The above film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according tothe present invention may be configured in the form of a film toconstitute a simple configuration so as to be easily attached to theskin and enhance usability convenience. The film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus according to the present invention maysimultaneously measure an electrical signal, pressure, vibration, and soon of a human body while being attached to the skin and may extractbiomedical information of various types of health indexes such as aheart rate, a stress index, BCG, a blood pressure, an amount of physicalactivity, a respiration rate, and VO₂max from the two differentbiomedical signals. The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatusaccording to the present invention may additionally calculate heartrate, stress index, BCG, blood pressure, amount of physical activity,respiration rate, CPF, VO₂max, and so on using a plurality of biomedicalsignals while simply measuring the plurality of biomedical signals, andthus various health indexes may be easily managed.

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, thethicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity, and thusthe present invention is not limited by the relative size or thicknessof the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating a measuring apparatus 10according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is aschematic plan view illustrating an attachment surface of apiezoelectric element and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the measuring apparatus 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention may include a film-typepiezoelectric element 12, three first metallic thin film electrodes 21,23, and 25 formed on an attachment surface of the piezoelectric element12, a second metallic thin film electrode 31 formed on the oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element 12, and a first circuit unit 32 anda second circuit unit 33 which are formed on the opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element 12.

The first circuit unit 32 may be used to measure a potential differencebetween the first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25 and maybe electrically connected to the first metallic thin film electrodes 21,23, and 25 through a conductive material 27 charged in through holes 22,24, and 26 formed in the piezoelectric element 12.

The second circuit unit 33 may be used to measure quantity of charge ofthe piezoelectric element 12 from any one electrode 21 of the firstmetallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25 and the second metallicthin film electrode 31 and may be electrically connected to each of theelectrode 21 and the second metallic thin film electrode 31 through thethrough hole 22 formed in the piezoelectric element 12 and a metallicthin film 28 formed on the opposite surface of the piezoelectric element12.

The three first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25 may includea reference electrode 21 for setting reference potential duringmeasurement of a potential difference and potential difference measuringelectrodes 23 and 25 for measurement of a potential difference. Inparticular, the reference electrode 21 may be commonly used with the anyone electrode 21 as a reference electrode for measurement of thequantity of charge of the piezoelectric element 12 by the second circuitunit 33.

The second circuit unit 33 and the any one electrode 21 as the referenceelectrode 21 may be electrically connected through a first through hole22 formed in the piezoelectric element 12 and the conductive material 27charged in the first through hole 22, and the first circuit unit 32 andeach of the potential difference measuring electrodes 23 and 25 may beelectrically connected through a second through hole 24 and a thirdthrough hole 26 which are formed in the piezoelectric element 12 and theconductive material 27 charged in the first and second through holes 24and 26.

Although not illustrated in the drawing, the first circuit unit 32 andthe reference electrode 21 may be electrically connected through aseparate through hole and a conductive material charged in the throughhole or may be electrically connected by circuit connecting the firstcircuit unit 32 to the second circuit unit 33 that is electricallyconnected to the reference electrode 21.

A non-formation region 14 in which a metallic thin film is not formedmay be formed on the attachment surface of the piezoelectric element 12so as to prevent the first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25from being electrically connected. In addition, the through holes 22,24, and 26 may be formed in regions in which the first metallic thinfilm electrodes 21, 23, and 25 are formed, but the through holes 22, 24,and 26 may be formed to be spaced apart from the regions for formationof the first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25 by apredetermine distance by extension regions 29, as illustrated in thedrawing.

As in the present embodiment, a film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus 10 according to the present invention may be configured to useonly the reference electrode 21 as a reference electrode for measuringquantity of charge of the piezoelectric element 12, but according toanother embodiment of the present invention, a film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus may be configured to use, as a referenceelectrode, all the first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25formed on the attachment surface of the piezoelectric element 12 inorder to precisely measure change in quantity of charge of thepiezoelectric element 12.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams illustrating a film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus 40 according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the measuringapparatus 40, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an attachmentsurface of a piezoelectric element, FIG. 5 is a schematic plan viewillustrating an opposite surface of the piezoelectric element, and FIG.6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a formation surface of asubstrate.

With regard to the description of the measuring apparatus 40 accordingto the present embodiment, for convenience of description, the referencenumerals and detailed description in the aforementioned embodiment maybe applied in the same way to the reference numerals and detaileddescriptions of the same components as those of the measuring apparatus10 according to the aforementioned embodiment among components of themeasuring apparatus 40.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the measuring apparatus 40 according to thepresent embodiment may include a piezoelectric element 42, a film-typeflexible substrate 50 adhered to the opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element 42, and an adhesive member 43 for adhesion betweenthe piezoelectric element 12 and the substrate 50. The adhesive member43 may be adhesives or double-sided adhesive tapes.

The three first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25 may beformed on the attachment surface of the piezoelectric element 42, thesecond metallic thin film electrode 31 may be formed on the oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element 42, and a third metallic thin filmelectrode 34, the first circuit unit 32, and the second circuit unit 33may be formed on the formation surface of the substrate 50 as anopposite surface of an adhesive surface of the substrate 50 adhered tothe opposite surface of the piezoelectric element 42.

The three first metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, and 25 may includethe reference electrode 21 for reference potential setting duringmeasurement of a potential difference and the potential differencemeasuring electrodes 23 and 25 for measuring the potential difference,and the first circuit unit 32 and each of the potential differencemeasuring electrodes 23 and 25 may be electrically connected through thesecond through hole 24 and the third through hole 26 which are formed inthe piezoelectric element 12 and the substrate 50, and the conductivematerial 27 filled in the second and third through holes 24 and 26.

The third metallic thin film electrode 34 and the reference electrode 21may be electrically connected through a fourth through hole 44 formed inthe piezoelectric element 42 and the substrate 50 and the conductivematerial 27 charged in the fourth through hole 44, the third metallicthin film electrode 34 and the second circuit unit 33 may beelectrically connected through a metallic thin film 45 formed on theformation surface of the substrate 50, and the second metallic thin filmelectrode 31 and the second circuit unit 33 may be electricallyconnected through a fifth through hole 46 formed in the substrate 50 andthe conductive material 27 charged in the fifth through hole 46.

Although not illustrated in the drawing, the first circuit unit 32 maybe electrically connected directly to the reference electrode 21 througha separate through hole and a conductive material charged in the throughhole, may be electrically connected to the reference electrode 21 byelectrically connecting the first circuit unit 32 to the third metallicthin film electrode 34 by a metallic thin film that is separately formedon the formation surface of the substrate 50 like in the case in whichthe second circuit unit 33 and the third metallic thin film electrode 34are electrically connected by the metallic thin film 45, or may beelectrically connected to the reference electrode 21 by circuitconnecting the first circuit unit 32 to the second circuit unit 33 thatis electrically connected to the reference electrode 21 through thethird metallic thin film electrode 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a non-formation region 47 in which a metallicthin film is not formed may be formed on the opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element 42 so as to prevent the second, third, and fourththrough holes 24, 26, and 44 from being electrically connected.

The measuring apparatus 40 with the aforementioned configurationaccording to the present embodiment is configured in such a way that thesecond metallic thin film electrode 31 as one of reference electrodesfor measuring the quantity of charge of the piezoelectric element 42 isdisposed between the third metallic thin film electrode 34 and thereference electrode 21 constituting another reference electrode, andaccordingly noise may be removed so as to more precisely measure thequantity of charge of the piezoelectric element 42.

Although not illustrated, as described above, a film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus according to the present invention mayinclude an adhesive member formed of silicon, PDMS, or the like, whichfacilitates skin attachment, a storage unit for storing signals measuredby a first circuit unit and a second circuit unit, and a transmitter fortransmitting the signals out of the measuring apparatus.

The adhesive member may be configured to entirely surround the measuringapparatus so as to function as a cover for protection of the measuringapparatus while facilitating skin attachment of the measuring apparatus.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating configurations of afirst circuit unit and a second circuit unit according to an embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagramillustrating an example of the first circuit unit configured to measurean electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from a measured potential differenceand FIG. 8 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating an example of thesecond circuit unit configured to measure a ballistocardiogram (BCG)signal from measured quantity of charge of a piezoelectric element.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first circuit unit according to an embodimentof the present invention may include two potential difference measuringelectrode units {circle around (a)}, a pre-amp circuit unit {circlearound (b)} for extracting a potential difference of skin surfaces fromthe two potential difference measuring electrode units, a potentialdifference measuring circuit unit {circle around (c)} for measuring apotential difference of the two potential difference measuring electrodeunits from potential of the two skin surfaces, and a filter circuit unit{circle around (d)} for filtering the measured potential difference andextracting only an ECG signal.

Here, the pre-amp circuit unit {circle around (b)} is a circuit unitrequired for signal acquisition when an electrode does not contactdirectly a human body due to other materials (e.g., adhesive gel orclothes) between the electrode and the human body like in the case inwhich the adhesive member entirely surrounds the measuring apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 8, the second circuit unit according to an embodimentof the present invention may include two electrode units {circle around(e)} for BCG measurement and a circuit unit {circle around (f)} forchanging quantity of charge charged in the BCG measuring electrodes intoa voltage signal and filter the voltage signal.

The first circuit unit and the second circuit unit may be configured tomeasure change in potential of electrodes connected to the measuringapparatus and to derive, store, and transmit the measured potentialchange and configured together with a power source (a battery).

In the measuring apparatus according to the present invention, thesignal measured by the second circuit unit simultaneously containsrespiration and body motion information (all of which are signalsgenerated according to vibration and movement of a body surface), andthus a frequency band filter may be separately configured to divide thesignal measured by the second circuit unit so as to separate therespiration information and the body motion information from the BCGsignal.

In addition, the measuring apparatus according to the present inventionmay be configured to store the measured ECG, BCG respiration, and humanbody motion signals in a main processor (MCU) through an ADC and toderive a secondary health index using these information items, to storethe measured biomedical signal in a separate storage space such as amicro SD card and EEPROM, or store the biomedical signal in anotherprocessing apparatus such as a smart phone, a smart pad, and a computerusing wireless communication such as WiFi, Bluetooh, ZigBee, and RF.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are images of an example of a measuring apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an imageof a state in which an attachment surface of a piezoelectric element 10is directed upward, and FIG. 10 is an image of a state in which aformation surface of a substrate is directed upward when the measuringapparatus further includes an opposite surface of a piezoelectricelement or a substrate.

As described above, the measuring apparatus according to the presentinvention may further include a separate film type substrate along witha film type piezoelectric element 10. In reality, in the both two cases,the measuring apparatus are configured in the form of a thin film, andthus it is difficult to distinguish the cases with the unaided eye, andas illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the both two cases, the measuringapparatus according to the present invention is configured in the formof a thin film, and thus it is easy to attach the measuring apparatusonto the skin and a configuration of the measuring apparatus may be verysimplified.

Hereinafter, an example of use of a film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus according to the present invention will bedescribed.

First, a measuring apparatus is attached onto a chest skin surface usingan adhesive member.

Then a user lives a daily life while attaching the measuring apparatusfor one day and records ECG, BCG, and human body motion materials duringthe day.

In this case, while the measuring apparatus is attached to the skin andbiomedical signal data is measured, the biomedical signal data maywirelessly transmitted to a smart phone, a smart pad, a computer, or thelike or may be stored in a storage device in the apparatus, or thetransmitting and the storing may be simultaneously performed.

When the biomedical signal data is externally and directly transmittedto a device, the device may process a signal and calculate a targethealth index, and when the biomedical signal is stored in the storagedevice, data is measured during about one day, the measuring apparatusis detached from the chest and put on a separate docking system, andthen all continuously measured data items may be simultaneouslytransmitted to a smart phone, a smart pad, a computer, or the like.

In order to extract stored data, the docking system may be configured totransmit the data using near field communication (NFC) or a wirelessdata transfer protocol (Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, etc.), configured totransmit the data through a contact terminal formed outside the dockingsystem for data transfer, or configured to charge the measuringapparatus.

Then when all the data items measured during one day are extracted andthe measuring apparatus is completely charged, the adhesive member isreplaced with new one for next day use and data is re-measured.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to thepresent invention may be configured to simultaneously and simply measurea plurality of biomedical signals such as electrical signals andvibration signals of the human body and to additionally perform signalprocessing for derivation of health indexes such as a heart rate, astress index, BCG, blood pressure, the amount of physical activity, arespiration rate, and VO₂max using the plurality of biomedical signals.

For example, during the signal processing for derivation of the healthindexes, the heart rate may be derived by analyzing an ECG signal,calculating a time interval between R peaks, and then calculating aheart rate per minute. In addition, the stress index may be derived byFFT processing a heart rate to acquire data in a frequency domain,calculating a heart rate ratio between a high frequency region and ahigh frequency region in the frequency domain.

In addition, the signal measured by the second circuit unit according tothe present invention contains all of BCG, respiration, and human bodymotion information, the BCG signal may be detected from the informationby passing the signal measured by the second circuit unit through aband-pass filter of about 0.2 to 10 Hz in order to extract only the BCGsignal, the respiration rate may be detected from the signal measured bythe second circuit unit through a band-pass filter of about 0.2 to 2 Hz,and the human body motion may be detected through a band-pass filter ofabout 1 to 30 Hz.

The blood pressure may be estimated by analyzing a time differencebetween ECG and BCG signals. For example, since an R-peak signal may begenerated from the ECG when the heart begins to bit due to electricstimulus and a J peak as a highest peak is generated from the BCG whenthe heart squirts blood thereafter, a time difference between generationof the R peak from the ECG and generation of the J peak from the BCG mayhave a direct relation with a systolic blood pressure, and thus a bloodpressure may be estimated according to a formula about the formula.

In addition, although the maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) is arepresentative index indicating a cardiovascular health degree and isimportant in that VO₂max has an intimate relation with a death rate,since it is cumbersome to measure VO₂max, VO₂max has not been generallyand widely used. However, VO₂max may be measured using the measuringapparatus according to the present invention by analyzing an enhancingdegree of a heart rate in the case of a specific amount of physicalactivity and by calculating VO₂max using human body motion and the heartrate.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus according to thepresent invention may also be configured to determine whether a user isauthenticated using a plurality of biomedical signals whilesimultaneously and simply measuring the biomedical signals such aselectrical signals and vibration signals of the human body.

Hereinafter, a blood pressure measuring apparatus for measuring a bloodpressure using the aforementioned film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus will be described in detail with regard to an embodiment ofthe present invention with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a bloodpressure measuring apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The blood pressure measuring apparatus 100 according to the presentinvention may measure a blood pressure using the aforementionedfilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and each ofthe film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 mayinclude a film-type piezoelectric element 12, a plurality of metallicthin film electrodes 21, 23, 25, and 31 formed on the piezoelectricelement 12, and the first circuit unit 32 and the second circuit unit33, which measure an ECG signal and a BCG signal from at least two ofthe plurality of metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, 25, and 31,respectively. That is, the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40 used in the blood pressure measuring apparatus 100according to the present invention may be configured in such a way thatthe first circuit unit 32 measures the ECG signal and the second circuitunit 33 measures the BCG signal. The detailed description of theaforementioned embodiments may be applied in the same way to thedetailed description of the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40, and thus the detailed description of thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 will beomitted here.

Referring to FIG. 11, the film-type blood pressure apparatus 100according to the present invention may include the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40, and a blood pressure calculator110 for deriving a blood pressure using the ECG signal and BCG signalmeasured by the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and40.

The blood pressure calculator 110 may measure a blood pressure using ablood pressure estimation regression equation for each user and an R-Jtime interval between an R-peak value of the ECG signal and a J-peakvalue of the BCG signal measured by the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10 and 40.

The blood pressure calculator 110 may include a detector 112 fordetecting an R-peak value from the ECG signal measured by the firstcircuit unit 32, detecting a J-peak value from the BCG signal measuredby the second circuit unit 33, and detecting an R-J time intervalbetween the R-peak value and the J-peak value, and a blood pressurecalculator 114 for deriving a blood pressure using the R-J time intervaldetected by the detector 112.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relation between an R-J time interval and asystolic blood pressure (SBP).

As seen from FIG. 12, a time interval between an R-peak value as a peakvalue in one period of an ECG signal and a J-peak value as a peak valuein one period of a BCG signal, that is, the R-J time interval has arelation with the SBP, and thus when the R-J time interval and the SBPare regressed, a blood pressure estimation regression equation may bederived. In addition, a blood pressure may be calculated by insertingthe calculated blood pressure estimation regression equation into theR-J time interval value. That is, the blood pressure may be measured byderiving only the R-J time interval from the ECG signal and the BCGsignal using the blood pressure estimation regression equation.

The relation between the R-J time interval and the SBP may be differentfor each respective user, and thus the blood pressure estimationregression equation may also be different for each respective user.

FIGS. 13 to 15 are graphs illustrating a relation between an R-J timeinterval and a SBP, which is different for each respective user, and asseen from FIGS. 13 to 15, the relation between the R-J time interval andthe SBP may be different for each respective user. Accordingly, in orderto measure as accurate blood pressure as possible when a blood pressureis measured using the R-J time interval and the blood pressureestimation regression equation, the blood pressure estimation regressionequation for each respective user may be used. For example, the bloodpressure calculator 114 may calculate a blood pressure using apre-stored blood pressure estimation regression equation for each userand the R-J time interval, and in this regard, the pre-stored bloodpressure estimation regression equation for each user may be a bloodpressure estimation regression equation of a subject, which is derivedfrom an R-J time interval and SBP of the subject pre-measured fromanother measuring apparatus.

The blood pressure measuring apparatus 100 according to the presentinvention may include at least one of a storage unit 120 for storing theblood pressure calculated by the blood pressure calculator 110 and adisplay unit 130 for displaying the calculated blood pressure.

Since the blood pressure measuring apparatus 100 according to thepresent invention may measure a blood pressure using the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and may be very thinin the form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skin, it isadvantageous to continuously measure the blood pressure without limitsof places, and thus when the blood pressure measuring apparatus 100includes the storage unit 120 that stores the continuously measuredblood pressure, detailed biomedical information of a subject may bederived from a blood pressure that is measured continuously or with atime interval. In addition, when the blood pressure measuring apparatus100 according to the present invention further includes the display unit130, the blood pressure that is measured continuously or with a timeinterval may be checked whenever the blood pressure is measured so as toprovide blood pressure information to the subject in real time. Inaddition, when the blood pressure measuring apparatus 100 according tothe present invention does not include the display unit 130, the bloodpressure measuring apparatus 100 may further include a transmitter (notshown) for transmitting blood pressure data stored in the storage unit120 to another device that is capable of displaying the data and mayfurther include a power source unit (not shown) for supplying power tothe film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a blood pressure measuringapparatus 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, the blood pressure measuring apparatus 150according to the present embodiment may be configured in such a way thatthe film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and theblood pressure calculator 110 are separately provided. For example, theblood pressure calculator 110 may not be installed in the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and may be installedin another device, for example, a separate portable device or a portablesmart phone that the subject carries. Accordingly, it may beadvantageous that the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses10 and 40 does not necessarily include the storage unit 120 for storingthe blood pressure calculated by the blood pressure calculator 110 andthe display unit 130 for displaying the calculated blood pressure.

The blood pressure measuring apparatus 100 according to the presentinvention may measure a blood pressure using the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and may be very thin in the formof a film so as to be easily attached to the skin. As described above,when the blood pressure calculator 110 is included in a separate deviceother than the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and40, the thickness of each of the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40 may become thin so as to be easily attached to theskin.

In this case, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10and 40 may further include a transmitter 140 that transmits the ECGsignal and the BCG signal which are measured by the first circuit unit32 and the second circuit unit 33, respectively to the blood pressurecalculator 110, and the blood pressure calculator 110 may be configuredto calculate a blood pressure using the ECG signal and the BCG signaltransmitted from the transmitter 140. The transmitter 140 may beconfigured by wire, wirelessly, or wired/wireless.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the BCG signal may be measuredthrough the piezoelectric elements 12 and 42 according to the secondcircuit unit 33, but the present invention is not limited thereto, andthe blood pressure measuring apparatus according to the presentinvention may be configured to measure the BCG signal using anacceleration sensor. In general, the BCG signal may be measured bypositioning an acceleration sensor on a skin surface and measuring areaction of a human body according to action of blood.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a bloodpressure measuring apparatus 170 for measuring a BCG signal using anacceleration sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, the blood pressure measuring apparatus 170according to the present embodiment may include a biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus 180 including a film-type substrate 181, at leasttwo metallic thin film electrodes 182 that are formed on an attachmentsurface of the substrate 181 not to be electrically connected to eachother, a first circuit unit 183 that is formed on an opposite surface ofthe substrate 181 so as to measure an ECG signal from the at least twometallic thin film electrodes 182, and a BCG signal measurer 184 formeasuring the BCG signal using the acceleration sensor formed on theopposite surface of the substrate 181, and a blood pressure calculator110 for calculating a blood pressure using the ECG signal and the BCGsignal that are measured by the first circuit unit 183 and the BCGsignal measurer 184, respectively.

As described above, the blood pressure measuring apparatus 170 accordingto the present embodiment is different from the aforementionedembodiments except that the BCG signal is measured using an accelerationsensor instead of the piezoelectric elements 12 and 42, and thus thedetailed description in the aforementioned embodiments is applied to adetailed description of the other components of the present embodiment.

As described above, the blood pressure measuring apparatus 170 accordingto the present embodiment may be configured in such a way that anacceleration sensor is formed on the opposite surface of the substrate181 or a plurality of acceleration sensors are disposed at a separateposition from the biomedical signal measuring apparatus 180, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, a method for measuring a blood pressure using the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 180 according to thepresent invention will be described with regard to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

As described above, when a blood pressure is measured using thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 180according to the present invention, it is easy to attach the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 180 to the skin inthe form of a film and an ECG signal and a BCG signal may besimultaneously and continuously measured without limits of places, andthus a blood pressure of a subject may be easily measured in real timewithout limits of places. For example, when the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 180 according to the presentinvention is configured in such a way that the first circuit unit 32 andthe second circuit unit 33 measure an ECG signal and a BCG signalcontinuously or at a time interval, respectively while being attached tothe skin of the subject, the detector 112 continuously derives an R-Jtime interval from the ECG and the BCG signal that are measuredcontinuously or at a time interval, and the blood pressure calculator114 calculates a blood pressure using the derived R-J time interval anda blood pressure estimation regression equation for each user, it may bepossible to measure a blood pressure of a subject in real timecontinuously or at a predetermined time interval without limits ofplaces.

A method for measuring a blood pressure according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may include deriving an R-peak value and a J-peakvalue from the simultaneously measured ECG signal and BCG signal,respectively, deriving an R-J time interval of the derived R-peak valueand J-peak value, and calculating a blood pressure using the derived R-Jtime interval and a pre-stored blood pressure estimation linearregression equation for each user. Here, the pre-stored blood pressureestimation linear regression equation for each user may be a bloodpressure estimation regression equation of a subject, which ispre-derived and stored in the blood pressure measuring apparatuses 100,150, and 170.

Hereinafter, a cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus forestimating a cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF) index using theaforementioned film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus will bedescribed in detail with regard to an embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cardiopulmonary fitnessestimating apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 200 according to thepresent invention may measure cardiopulmonary fitness using theaforementioned film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and40 and may include the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses10 and 40, and a cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 forestimating a cardiopulmonary fitness index using the ECG signal and thevibration signal measured by the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40.Accordingly, the cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 200according to the present invention uses the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10 and 40 that may be easily attached to the skinand may simultaneously and continuously measure the ECG signal and thevibration signal and thus may very simply measure cardiopulmonaryfitness during a daily life.

The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 mayinclude the film-type piezoelectric elements 12 and 42, a plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, 25, 31, and 34 formed on thepiezoelectric elements 12 and 42, and the first circuit unit 32 and thesecond circuit unit 33 which measure the ECG signal and the vibrationsignal from at least two of the plurality of metallic thin filmelectrodes 21, 23, 25, 31, and 34, respectively. That is, the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 used in thecardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 200 according to thepresent invention may be configured in such a way that the first circuitunit 32 measures the ECG signal and the second circuit unit 33 measuresthe vibration signal. The first circuit unit 32 may be an ECG signalprocessor and may include an instrumentation amp unit and a filter unit,and the biomedical signal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 mayfurther include a capacitance preamplifier when being attached to theskin using hydro gel. The second circuit unit 33 may be a vibrationsignal processor and may include a current-voltage converter and afilter unit, the current-voltage converter may convert current generatedby the piezoelectric element 12 into a voltage, and the filter unit maydetect an appropriate human body motion signal band from the measuredvibration signal. For example, the human body motion signal may bedetected by passing a signal measured by the second circuit unit 33through a band-pass filter of about 1 to 30 Hz. The detailed descriptionof the aforementioned embodiments may be applied in the same way to thedetailed description of the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40, and thus the detailed description of thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 will beomitted here.

The cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may be configured tomeasure cardiopulmonary fitness using the ECG signal and the vibrationsignal measured by the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses10 and 40 and for example, may be configured to measure maximal oxygenuptake (VO₂max) indicating a reaction degree of a human body when loadis applied to the human body.

In detail, the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may calculatea heart rate at each unit time from the ECG signal that is continuouslymeasured by the first circuit unit 32 for a predetermined measurementtime period (e.g., during a daily life), calculate a amount of physicalactivity at each unit time from the vibration signal that iscontinuously measured by the second circuit unit 33, extract the heartrate and amount of physical activity data in a period in which the heartrate increases from the calculated heart rate and amount of physicalactivity data, detect a linear regression equation between the heartrate and the amount of physical activity in the period in which theheart rate increases using the extracted heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data, calculate maximum activity energy expenditureusing the detected linear regression equation, and calculate maximaloxygen uptake (VO₂max) using the calculated maximum activity energyexpenditure and a pre-stored maximal oxygen uptake estimation equation.

To this end, the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may includea first storage unit for storing an ECG signal and a vibration signalthat are continuously measured by the first circuit unit 32 and thesecond circuit unit 33 during a measurement period, respectively, aheart rate calculator for calculating a heart rate (beat/min) at eachunit time (e.g., every 1 minute) from the ECG signal stored in the firststorage unit, an amount of physical activity calculator for calculatingan amount of physical activity (J/min) at each unit time (e.g., every 1minute) from the vibration stored in the storage unit, a second storageunit for storing the calculated heart rate and amount of physicalactivity, an extractor for extracting heart rate and amount of physicalactivity data in a period in which the heart rate increases from theheart rate and amount of physical activity data stored in the secondstorage unit, a detector for detecting a linear regression equationbetween the heart rate and the amount of physical activity in the periodin which the heart rate increases using the extracted heart rate andamount of physical activity data, a maximum amount of physical activitycalculator for calculating maximum activity energy expenditure using thedetected linear regression equation, and a maximal oxygen uptakecalculator for calculating maximal oxygen uptake using the maximumactivity energy expenditure and a pre-stored maximal oxygen uptakeestimation regression equation.

Here, only the heart rate and amount of physical activity data in theperiod in which the heart rate increases is extracted to derive a linearregression equation because a general method for measuring maximaloxygen uptake is performed by monitoring and analyzing a situation inwhich a human body reacts (heart rate increases) in the human bodymoves, and thus when only the period in which the heart rate increasesis extracted during a daily life, the same effect may be expected as inthe general method for measuring maximal oxygen uptake.

FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating heart rate (HR (BPM), beat/min) and anamount of physical activity (activity energy expenditure (aEE)(J/min))that are calculated and stored every one minute from continuouslymeasured ECG signals and vibration signals, and FIG. 20 is a graphillustrating detection of a linear regression equation by extractingonly heart rate and amount of physical activity data in a period (ashaded portion of FIG. 19) in which a heart rate increases.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, when a regression equation is detected byextracting only heart rate and amount of physical activity data in aperiod in which a heart rate increases from the heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data calculated every one minute from continuouslymeasured ECG signals and vibration signals, a linear regression equationmay be detected as shown in FIG. 2.

In addition, when a maximum heart rate (in general, a maximum heart rateis (220-age)) according to age of a subject is inserted into thedetected linear regression equation, maximum activity energy expenditureof the subject may be calculated, and the calculated maximum activityenergy expenditure is inserted into a preset maximal oxygen uptakeestimation regression equation (VO₂max estimation equation) obtained viaclinical trial, the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of the subject may bemeasured.

Compared to measurement of maximal oxygen uptake, the cardiopulmonaryfitness index estimator 210 may be configured to measure homeostasis fordetermining a human body's degree of returning to an original stateafter load applied to a human body is removed. To this end, compared tomeasurement of maximal oxygen uptake, the cardiopulmonary fitness indexestimator 210 may be configured to extract the heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data in a period in which the heart rate decreasesfrom the calculated heart rate and amount of physical activity data andto detect a linear regression equation between a heart rate and anamount of physical activity in a period in which the heart ratedecreases using the extracted heart rate and amount of physical activitydata. Likewise, when the regression equation between the heart rate andthe amount of physical activity in the period in which the heart ratedecreases is detected, homeostasis as a human body's degree of returningto an original state after load applied to a human body is removed maybe measured. Here, the homeostasis may be represented by inclination ofthe linear regression equation, time taken to return to an originalstate, or the like.

The cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 200 according to thepresent invention may further include a display unit 230 for displayingthe cardiopulmonary fitness (e.g., maximal oxygen uptake) calculated bythe cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210, and a power supply unit(not shown) for supplying power.

As described above, the cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 200according to the present invention is a system for estimating acardiopulmonary fitness index using the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and may be very thin in the form of afilm so as to be easily attached to the skin, and thus thecardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 200 may continuouslymeasure a ECG signal and a vibration signal without limits of placeswhile being attached to the skin, and when the ECG signal and thevibration that are continuously measured while the cardiopulmonaryfitness estimating apparatus 200 is attached to the skin are used,cardiopulmonary fitness such as maximal oxygen uptake may be easily andsimply measured during a daily life. Accordingly, personal physicalhealth as well as personal physic al activity may be managed bycontinuous measuring and managing cardiopulmonary fitness to highly helppersonal health maintenance, and cardiopulmonary fitness is notnecessarily measured through intended sub-maximal exercise, and thuscardiopulmonary fitness of patients and elderly people as well ashealthy people may also be easily and safely measured.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of acardiopulmonary fitness measuring system according to another embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 21, a cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 250according to the present embodiment may be configured in such a way thatthe film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and thecardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 are separately installed.For example, the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may beinstalled in another device, for example, a separate portable device ora smart phone that a subject carries rather than being installed in thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40.

The cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus according to thepresent invention may estimate cardiopulmonary fitness using thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and may bevery thin in the form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skin.As described above, when the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210is installed in a separate device other than the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40, the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10 and 40 may be further thinned accordingly so asto be more easily attached onto the skin.

In this case, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10and 40 may further include a transmitter 240 for transmitting the ECGsignal and the vibration signal that are measured by the first circuitunit 32 and the second circuit unit 33, respectively to thecardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210, and the cardiopulmonaryfitness index estimator 210 may be configured to measure cardiopulmonaryfitness using the ECG signal and the vibration signal transmitted fromthe transmitter 240. The transmitter 240 may be configured by wire,wirelessly, or wired/wireless.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the human body motion signal forestimation of the amount of physical activity is measured by measuringthe vibration signal of the piezoelectric elements 12 and 42 accordingto the second circuit unit 33, but the present invention is not limitedthereto, and the cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus accordingto the present invention may be configured to measure a human bodymotion signal using an acceleration sensor or may further include anacceleration sensor, which will be described in detail with reference tothe drawing.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of acardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus for measuring a human bodymotion signal using only an acceleration sensor without using avibration signal of a piezoelectric element, according to an embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 22, a cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 270according to the present embodiment may include a biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus 280 including a film-type substrate 281, at leasttwo metallic thin film electrodes 282 that are formed on an attachmentsurface of the substrate 281 not to be electrically connected to eachother, a first circuit unit 283 that is formed on an opposite surface ofthe substrate 281 so as to measure an ECG signal from the at least twometallic thin film electrodes 282, and an acceleration sensor 284 formedon the opposite surface of the substrate 281, and the cardiopulmonaryfitness index estimator 210 for calculating a heart rate from the ECGsignal measured by the first circuit unit 283, calculating an amount ofphysical activity from the human body motion signal measured by theacceleration sensor 284, and measuring cardiopulmonary fitness using thecalculated heart rate and amount of physical activity.

As described above, the cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 270according to the present embodiment is different from the aforementionedembodiment in that a human body motion signal is measured by theacceleration sensor 284 instead of use of the vibration signal of thepiezoelectric elements 12 and 42, and thus the detailed description ofthe aforementioned embodiments is applied in the same way to othercomponents of the present embodiment.

As described above, the cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 270according to the present embodiment may be configured in such a way thatthe acceleration sensor 284 may be formed on the opposite surface of thesubstrate 281 or configured in such a way that a plurality ofacceleration sensors may be formed at a separate position from thebiomedical signal measuring apparatus 280, but the present invention isnot limited thereto.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cardiopulmonary fitnessmeasuring system that uses a vibration signal of a piezoelectric elementand further includes an acceleration sensor, according to an embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 23, a cardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus 290according to the present embodiment may further include an accelerationsensor 284 for measuring a human body motion signal in addition to thebiomedical signal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40. The accelerationsensor 284 may be installed directly in biomedical signal the measuringapparatuses 10 and 40 or a plurality of acceleration sensors may beinstalled in a specific part such as an arm and a leg separately fromthe biomedical signal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40. In this case,the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may multiply use thehuman body motion signal measured by the acceleration sensor 284 alongwith the vibration signal measured by the second circuit unit 33 tocalculate an amount of physical activity.

Since the acceleration sensor 284 directly measures accelerationaccording to human body motion, the acceleration sensor 284 may easilymeasure the human body motion signal, but when a subject is moved byexternal force such as in an automobile and an elevator, an issue alsooccurs in that movement according to the external force is measured asif the subject moves. On the other hand, since the vibration signal ofthe piezoelectric elements 12 and 42 is measured by the second circuitunit 33 of the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and40 while the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40is attached directly to the skin of the human body, there is no need toworry about measuring movement according to external force of thesubject as movement according to motion of the subjection. Accordingly,like in the present embodiment, when a human body motion signal forcalculation of the amount of physical activity is multiply used togetherwith the signal measured by the acceleration sensor 284 and thevibration signal measured by the second circuit unit 33, the above issuemay be prevented so as to measure an accurate human body motion signal,thereby enhancing accuracy of estimation of the amount of physicalactivity used to measure cardiopulmonary fitness.

For example, the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may beconfigured to calculate the amount of physical activity using both ofthe signals measured by the second circuit unit 33 and the accelerationsensor 284 or configured to calculate two amounts of physical activityfrom the respective signals measured by the second circuit unit 33 andthe acceleration sensor 284 and to calculate an average value of the twocalculated amount of physical activity as an actual amount of physicalactivity. The cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may calculatethe amount of physical activity calculated from the signal measured bythe acceleration sensor 284 as an actual amount of physical activity anduse the vibration single measured by the second circuit unit 33 as datafor determining whether the signal measured by the acceleration sensor284 is a signal that is actually generated according to motion of thesubject. For example, the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210may be configured to calculate the amount of physical activitycalculated using the signal measured by the acceleration sensor 284 asan actual amount of physical activity when the amount of physicalactivity calculated using the signal measured by the acceleration sensor284 is compared with the amount of physical activity calculated usingthe signal measured by the second circuit unit 33, if a differencebetween the two calculated amounts of physical activity is within anerror range and to determine that the subject is moved by external forceand exclude the measured value or to calculate the amount of physicalactivity calculated using the vibration signal measured by the secondcircuit unit 33 as an actual amount of physical activity if thedifference between the two calculated amounts of physical activity isvery large to be equal to or greater than the error range, therebypreventing measurement error of the acceleration sensor 284, which isgenerated due to movement according to external force.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, thecardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatuses 200, 250, 270, and 290may be configured in such a way that the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 280 directly calculate a heart rateand an amount of physical activity. To this end, the first circuit unit32 may be configured to calculate a hear rate from the continuouslymeasured ECG signal at each unit time and the second circuit unit 33 maybe configured to calculate an amount of physical activity from thecontinuously measured vibration signal at each unit time. In this case,the cardiopulmonary fitness index estimator 210 may estimate acardiopulmonary fitness index using the heart rate that is calculated bythe first circuit unit 32 at each unit time and the amount of physicalactivity that is calculated by the second circuit unit 33 at each unittime. The heart rate may be calculated by circuit-configuring the firstcircuit unit 32 to calculate the number of peak points (R peaks) at eachunit time from the continuously measured ECG signal and the amount ofphysical activity may be calculated by circuit-configuring the secondcircuit unit 33 to calculate the amount of physical activity from thecontinuously measured vibration signal.

Hereinafter, a method for estimating cardiopulmonary fitness using thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 will bedescribed in detail with regard to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

As described above, since the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10, 40, and 280 according to the present invention may beeasily attached to the skin in the form of a film by estimatingcardiopulmonary fitness, the ECG signal and the human body motion signalmay be continuously and simultaneously measured without limits ofplaces, and accordingly the cardiopulmonary fitness of the subject maybe easily estimated without limits of places during a daily life.

First, in the method for estimating cardiopulmonary fitness according tothe present invention, a subject lives a daily life while the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 is attached onto theskin for a predetermined measurement period.

In this case, the ECG signal and the human body motion signal aresimultaneously and continuously measured and stored during a daily life.Here, the human body motion signal may be a vibration signal measured bythe second circuit unit 33, a signal measured by the acceleration sensor284, or all signals measured by the second circuit unit 33 and theacceleration sensor 284, but the present invention is not limitedthereto.

Then a heart rate (beat/min) is calculated from the stored ECG signaland stored every one minute, and an amount of physical activity (J/min)is calculated from the stored human body motion signal and stored everyone minute. Here, the heart rate may be calculated by analyzing the ECGsignal and calculating a time interval between R peaks to calculate abeat per minute or to calculate the number of R peaks per minute. Theamount of physical activity may be calculated using the human bodymotion signal and a weight of the subject.

Then only heart rate and amount of physical activity data in a period inwhich the heart rate continuously increases (e.g., the heart rateincreases for minimum of 2 minutes) is extracted from the heart rate andamount of physical activity data that is calculated and stored for themeasurement time.

Then a linear regression equation between the heart rate and the amountof physical activity in a period in which the heart rate increases isdetected using the extracted heart rate and amount of physical activitydata.

Then estimated maximum activity energy expenditure of the subject iscalculated using a maximum heart rate (which may be generally calculatedaccording to Expression (220-age)) based on an age for each useraccording to the detected linear regression equation.

Then maximal oxygen uptake of the subject may be calculated according toa relation equation (a maximal oxygen uptake estimation regressionequation) established from prior research using the calculated maximumactivity energy expenditure and body size.

An example of the maximal oxygen uptake estimation regression equationis as follows.

VO₂max=0.103*aEEmax−31.952*height+92.532

Here, VO₂max is maximal oxygen uptake, aEEmax is maximum activity energyexpenditure, height is the height of the subject, and coefficients andhuman size parameters in the equation may be changed.

In the method for estimating cardiopulmonary fitness according to thepresent invention, homeostasis for determining a human body's degree ofreturning to an original state after load applied to a human body isremoved may also be measured by extracting only heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data in a period in which the heart rate increasesfrom the heart rate and the amount of physical activity that are storedfor the measurement period and detecting a linear regression equationbetween the extracted heart rate and amount of physical activity. Here,the homeostasis may be represented by inclination of the linearregression equation, time taken to return to an original state, or thelike.

Here, a personal authentication apparatus for determining whether a useris authenticated using the aforementioned film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus will be described in detail with regard to anembodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of apersonal authentication apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The personal authentication apparatus 300 according to the presentinvention may determine whether a user is authenticated using theaforementioned film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and40, and the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40may include a film-type piezoelectric element 12, the plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, 25, and 31 formed on thepiezoelectric element 12, and the first circuit unit 32 and the secondcircuit unit 33 that measure an ECG signal and a BCG signal from atleast two of the plurality of metallic thin film electrodes 21, 23, 25,and 31, respectively. That is, the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40 used in the personal authentication apparatus 300according to the present invention may be configured in such a way thatthe first circuit unit 32 measures the ECG signal and the second circuitunit 33 measures the BCG signal. The detailed description of theaforementioned embodiments may be applied in the same way to thedetailed description of the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40, and thus the detailed description of thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 will beomitted here.

Referring to FIG. 24, the personal authentication apparatus 300according to an embodiment of the present invention may include thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40, and apersonal authentication unit 310 for determining whether a user isauthenticated using the ECG signal and the BCG signal that are measuredfrom the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40.

The personal authentication unit 310 may determine whether the user isauthenticated by comparing an ECG fiducial value and BCG fiducial valueof an authentication target, which are detected from the ECG signal andthe BCG signal measured from the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10 and 40, with a pre-stored ECG fiducial value and BCGfiducial value of a registration target, respectively.

To this end, the personal authentication unit 310 may include a database(DB) 312 for storing the ECG fiducial value and BCG fiducial value ofthe registration target, a detector for detecting an ECG fiducial valuefrom the ECG signal of the authentication target measured by the firstcircuit unit 32 and detecting the BCG fiducial value from the BCG signalof the authentication target measured by the second circuit unit 33, andan authentication processor 315 for comparing the ECG fiducial value andBCG fiducial value of the authentication target detected by the detector314 with the ECG fiducial value and BCG fiducial value of theregistration target stored in the DB 312, respectively to determinewhether the user is authenticated.

Likewise, since the personal authentication apparatus 300 according tothe present invention determine whether the user is authenticated bymultiply using the ECG signal and the BCG signal, the accuracy ofpersonal authentication may be enhanced accordingly.

Here, determination of whether a user is authenticated may beinterpreted as determining whether the authentication target correspondsto the registration target, and the ECG fiducial value and the BCGfiducial value may refer to reference values for determination ofwhether the user is authenticated.

FIG. 25 is a graph illustrating an example of ECG fiducial valuesdetected from an ECG signal, and FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating anexample of BCG fiducial values detected from a BCG signal.

As seen from FIG. 25, it is well known that a plurality of fiducialpoints L′, P, P′, Q, R, S, S′, T, T′, etc. are present in an ECG signalwaveform and that personal authentication is performed through aspecific combination of a relative interval or a magnitude ratio betweenthe plurality of fiducial points, a frequency component, and so on.

Accordingly, like values represented by a plurality of numbers of FIG.25, an ECG fiducial value as a reference value for determination ofpersonal authentication may include any one or a combination of twoselected from the group consisting of a relative interval or magnituderatio, or the like between a plurality of fiducial values.

As shown in FIG. 26, a plurality of fiducial points H, I, J, K, L, M, N,O, etc. are present in the BCG signal waveform like in the ECG signalwaveform, and accordingly a BCG fiducial value as a reference fordetermination of personal authentication may include any one or acombination of two selected from the group consisting of a relativeinterval or magnitude ratio, or the like between a plurality of fiducialvalues, such as values in F1 to F12 indicated in FIG. 13.

Since the personal authentication apparatus 300 according to the presentinvention determines whether the user is authenticated using thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 that isformed in the form of a film so as to be easily attached to the skin,whether the user is authenticated may be determined while the personalauthentication apparatus 300 is attached to the skin during a daily lifeso as to continuously determine whether the user is authenticatedwithout limits of places.

In this case, the ECG fiducial value and BCG fiducial value of theregistration target stored in the DB 312 may be detected from the ECGsignal and BCG signal, respectively that are initially measured afterthe biomedical signal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 are attachedto the skin of the registration target, and the ECG fiducial value andBCG fiducial value of the authentication target detected by the detector314 may be detected from the ECG signal and the BCG signal of theregistration target, respectively that are measured by the biomedicalsignal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 attached to the skin of theregistration target at a specific time for personal authentication.

Accordingly, the personal authentication apparatus 300 according to thepresent invention may be used as a personal authentication sensor basedon a biomedical signal, which may determine whether a user isauthenticated in real time without limits of places while being attachedto the skin of the registration target during a daily life.

The personal authentication unit 310 may further include a transmitter317 for transmitting the personal authentication determining result thatis continuously obtained in real time without limits of places to adevice or system that requires personal authentication for security,electronic payment, etc. The transmitter 317 may be configured by wire,wirelessly, or wired/wireless.

When the personal authentication apparatus 300 is attached to the skinof the registration target, the biomedical signal the measuringapparatuses 10 and 40 may measures an ECG signal and a BCG signalcontinuously or at a predetermined time interval, and in this case, thepersonal authentication unit 310 may further include a DB updating unit(not shown) for detecting the ECG fiducial value and the BCG fiducialvalue from the ECG signal and the BCG signal that are measuredcontinuously or at a predetermined time interval by the biomedicalsignal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40, respectively and storing theECG fiducial value and the BCG fiducial value in the DB 312.

A biomedical signal of the ECG signal and BCG signal measured by thebiomedical signal the measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 may be changedaccording to change in health of the registration target, and the changein the biomedical signal may cause measurement error. In this regard,when the personal authentication unit 310 further includes the DB updateunit, even if a heart rate of the registration target is changedaccording to change in health to change a heart behavior, the heart ratemay be checked continuously or at a predetermined time interval and theECG fiducial value and the BCG fiducial value may be automaticallyupdated, and thus even if a biomedical signal is changed according tochange in a health state or health behavior of the registration target,the DB 312 may be automatically updated according to the change so as toconfigure the DB 312 optimized to the registration target, therebyremarkably reducing measurement error according to change in thebiomedical signal.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of apersonal authentication apparatus 350 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 27, the personal authentication apparatus 350according to the present embodiment may be configured in such a way thatthe film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and thepersonal authentication unit 310 are separately installed. For example,the personal authentication unit 310 may be installed in another device,for example, a separate portable device or a smart phone that a subjectcarries rather than being installed in the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10 and 40.

The personal authentication unit according to the present invention maydetermine whether a user is authenticated using the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 and may be very thin in the formof a film so as to be easily attached to the skin. As described above,when the personal authentication unit 310 is installed in a separatedevice other than the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses10 and 40, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and40 may be further thinned accordingly so as to be more easily attachedonto the skin.

In this case, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10and 40 may further include a transmitter 340 for transmitting the ECGsignal and the vibration signal that are measured by the first circuitunit 32 and the second circuit unit 33, respectively to the personalauthentication unit 310, and the personal authentication unit 310 may beconfigured to determine whether the user is authenticated using the ECGsignal and BCG signal transmitted by the transmitter 340. Thetransmitter 340 may be configured by wire, wirelessly, orwired/wireless.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the BCG signal is measured by thepiezoelectric elements 12 and 42 according to the second circuit unit33, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the personalauthentication apparatus according to the present invention may beconfigured to measure a BCG signal using an acceleration sensor. Ingeneral, the BCG signal may be measured by positioning the accelerationsensor on a skin surface and then measuring a reaction of the human bodyaccording to blood action.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating a personal authenticationapparatus 370 for measuring a BCG signal using an acceleration sensor,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 28, the personal authentication apparatus 370according to the present embodiment may include a biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus 380 including a film-type substrate 381, at leasttwo metallic thin film electrodes 382 that are formed on an attachmentsurface of the substrate 381 not to be electrically connected to eachother, a first circuit unit 383 that is formed on an opposite surface ofthe substrate 381 so as to measure an ECG signal from the at least twometallic thin film electrodes 382, and a BCG signal measurer 384 formeasuring the BCG signal using an acceleration sensor formed on theopposite surface of the substrate 381, and the personal authenticationunit 310 for determining whether a user is authenticated using the ECGsignal and the BCG signal that are measured by the first circuit unit383 and BCG signal measurer 384, respectively.

As described above, the personal authentication apparatus 370 accordingto the present embodiment is different from in the aforementionedembodiments except that a BCG signal is measured using the accelerationsensor instead of the piezoelectric elements 12 and 42, and accordinglythe detailed description of the aforementioned embodiments is applied inthe same way to other components of the present embodiment.

As described above, the personal authentication apparatus 370 accordingto the present embodiment may be configured in such a way that theacceleration sensor may be formed on the opposite surface of thesubstrate 381 or configured in such a way that a plurality ofacceleration sensors may be formed at a separate position from thebiomedical signal measuring apparatus 380, but the present invention isnot limited thereto.

Hereinafter, a personal authentication method using the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10 and 40 according to thepresent invention will be described in detail with regard to anembodiment of the present invention.

First, the personal authentication method according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may include detecting a ECG fiducial value and BCGfiducial value of an authentication target from simultaneously measuredECG signal and BCG signal, respectively, and determining whether a useris authenticated by comparing the detected ECG fiducial value and BCGfiducial value of the authentication target with pre-stored ECG fiducialvalue and BCG fiducial value of the registration target, respectively.

As described above, when whether a user is authenticated is determinedusing the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and380 according to the present invention, since the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 380 is easily attached to theskin in the form of a film, an ECG signal and a BCG signal may becontinuously and simultaneously measured without limits of places whilebeing attached to the skin of the registration target, and thus thepersonal authentication apparatuses 300, 350, and 370 according to thepresent invention may be used as a biomedical signal-based personalauthentication sensor for determining whether the registration target isauthenticated in real time during a daily life without limits of places.

A personal authentication method using a biomedical signal-basedpersonal authentication sensor according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include attaching the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 380 to the skin of a registrationtarget, detecting an ECG fiducial value and a BCG fiducial value from anECG signal and a BCG signal, respectively that are initially andsimultaneously measured by the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatuses 10, 40, and 380 and storing the ECG fiducial value and theBCG fiducial value of the registration target in the DB 312, detectingan ECG fiducial value and a BCG fiducial value from an ECG signal and aBCG signal, respectively that are thereafter and simultaneously measuredby the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 380at a specific time point for personal authentication, and comparing thedetected ECG fiducial value and BCG fiducial value with the ECG fiducialvalue and the BCG fiducial value of the registration target,respectively to determine whether the registration target isauthenticated.

The method may further include detecting an ECG fiducial value and a BCGfiducial value from an ECG signal and a BCG signal, respectively thatare continuously or a predetermined time interval by the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatuses 10, 40, and 380 attached to theskin of the registration target and storing the ECG fiducial value andthe BCG fiducial value in the DB 312.

As described above, the present invention relates to a film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus configured in such a way that aplurality of metallic thin film electrodes and a circuit unit are formedon a piezoelectric element in the form of a film so as to be easilyattached to the skin and a vibration signal and an electrical signal ofa human body is simultaneously measured using the plurality of metallicthin film electrodes and the circuit unit, and embodiments of thepresent invention may be changed in various forms. Accordingly, thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiments described in thespecification, and any form in which ordinary skill in the art canchange may be within the scope of the present invention.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatuscomprising: a film-type piezoelectric; a plurality of metallic thin filmelectrodes formed on the piezoelectric element; a first circuit unit formeasuring a biomedical evoked potential from at least two of theplurality of metallic thin film electrodes; and a second circuit unitfor measuring a biomedical evoked vibration signal from at least two ofthe plurality of metallic thin film electrodes.
 25. The film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus of claim 24, wherein: theplurality of metallic thin film electrodes comprises two or more firstmetallic thin film electrodes formed on an attachment surface of thepiezoelectric element so as not to be electrically connected to eachother, and a second metallic thin film electrode formed on an oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element; the first circuit unit is formedon the opposite surface of the piezoelectric element so as to beelectrically connected to at least two first metallic thin filmelectrode among the first metallic thin film electrodes; and the secondcircuit unit is formed on the opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement so as to be electrically connected to at least one firstmetallic thin film electrode among the first metallic thin filmelectrodes and the second metallic thin film electrode.
 26. Thefilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus of claim 24, wherein:the plurality of metallic thin film electrodes comprises at least twofirst metallic thin film electrode formed on an attachment surface ofthe piezoelectric element so as not to be electrically connected to eachother, and a second metallic thin film electrode formed on an oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element; the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus further comprises a film-type substrate with anadhesion surface adhered to the opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement; a third metallic thin film electrode electrically connected toat least one first metallic thin film electrode among the first metallicthin film electrodes is formed on a formation surface of the film-typesubstrate; the first circuit unit is formed on the formation surface ofthe film-type substrate so as to be electrically connected to at leasttwo first metallic thin film electrode among the first metallic thinfilm electrodes; and the second circuit unit is formed on the formationsurface of the film-type substrate so as to be electrically connected tothe second metallic thin film electrode and the third metallic thin filmelectrode.
 27. The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus ofclaim 24, wherein: the plurality of metallic thin film electrodescomprise at least two first metallic thin film electrodes formed on anattachment surface of the piezoelectric element so as not to beelectrically connected to each other, and a second metallic thin filmelectrode formed on an opposite surface of the piezoelectric element;the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus further comprises afilm-type substrate with an adhesion surface adhered to the oppositesurface of the piezoelectric element; a third metallic thin filmelectrode is formed on a formation surface of the film-type substrate soas to be electrically connected to any one of the first metallic thinfilm electrodes; the first circuit unit is formed on the formationsurface of the film-type substrate so as to be electrically connected toremaining first metallic thin film electrodes except for the any onefirst metallic thin film electrode; and the second circuit unit isformed on the formation surface of the film-type substrate so as to beelectrically connected to the second metallic thin film electrode andthe third metallic thin film electrode.
 28. The film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first circuit unitis electrically connected to the third metallic thin film electrode andmeasures a potential difference between the remaining first metallicthin film electrodes using the any one first metallic thin filmelectrode as a reference electrode to measure an electrocardiogram (ECG)signal.
 29. The film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus of claim24, further comprising an adhesive member disposed on any one ofsurfaces of the piezoelectric element or disposed to surround thepiezoelectric element and the substrate to allow any one of thepiezoelectric element to be easily attached to a skin.
 30. The film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus of claim 24, wherein: the firstcircuit unit measures an ECG signal from the measured biomedical evokedpotential; and the second circuit unit measures a ballistocardiogram(BCG) signal from the measured biomedical evoked vibration signal.
 31. Ablood pressure measuring apparatus comprising: a film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus for measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG)signal and a ballistocardiogram (BCG) signal forming a plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes on both sides of a film-type piezoelectricelement; and a blood pressure calculator for calculating a bloodpressure using the ECG signal and the BCG signal that are measured bythe film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus.
 32. The bloodpressure measuring apparatus of claim 31, the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus comprising a first circuit unit for measuringan electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from at least two of the plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes, and a second circuit unit for measuring aballistocardiogram (BCG) signal from at least two of the plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes.
 33. The blood pressure measuringapparatus of claim 32, wherein: the plurality of metallic thin filmelectrodes comprise at least two first metallic thin film electrodesformed on an attachment surface of the piezoelectric element so as notto be electrically connected to each other, and a second metallic thinfilm electrode formed on an opposite surface of the piezoelectricelement; the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus furthercomprises a film-type substrate with an adhesion surface adhered to theopposite surface of the piezoelectric element; a third metallic thinfilm electrode is formed on a formation surface of the film-typesubstrate so as to be electrically connected to any one of the firstmetallic thin film electrodes; the first circuit unit is formed on theformation surface of the film-type substrate so as to be electricallyconnected to remaining first metallic thin film electrodes except forthe any one first metallic thin film electrode; and the second circuitunit is formed on the formation surface of the film-type substrate so asto be electrically connected to the second metallic thin film electrodeand the third metallic thin film electrode.
 34. The blood pressuremeasuring apparatus of claim 31, wherein the blood pressure calculatorcalculates a blood pressuring using a blood pressure estimationregression equation for each user and an R-J time interval between anR-peak value of the ECG signal measured by the film-type biomedicalsignal measuring apparatus and a J-peak value of the BCG signal measuredby the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus.
 35. Acardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus comprising: a film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus for an electrocardiogram (ECG)signal and a vibration signal forming a plurality of metallic thin filmelectrodes on both sides of a film-type piezoelectric element; and acardiopulmonary fitness index estimator for estimating a cardiopulmonaryfitness index using the ECG signal and the vibration signal that aremeasured by the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus.
 36. Thecardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus of claim 35, the film-typebiomedical signal measuring apparatus comprising a first circuit unitfor measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from at least two of theplurality of metallic thin film electrodes, and a second circuit unitfor measuring a ballistocardiogram (BCG) signal from at least two of theplurality of metallic thin film electrodes.
 37. The cardiopulmonaryfitness estimating apparatus of claim 36, wherein: the plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes comprise at least two first metallic thinfilm electrodes formed on an attachment surface of the piezoelectricelement so as not to be electrically connected to each other, and asecond metallic thin film electrode formed on an opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element; the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus further comprises a film-type substrate with an adhesionsurface adhered to the opposite surface of the piezoelectric element; athird metallic thin film electrode is formed on a formation surface ofthe film-type substrate so as to be electrically connected to any one ofthe first metallic thin film electrodes; the first circuit unit isformed on the formation surface of the film-type substrate so as to beelectrically connected to remaining first metallic thin film electrodesexcept for the any one first metallic thin film electrode; and thesecond circuit unit is formed on the formation surface of the film-typesubstrate so as to be electrically connected to the second metallic thinfilm electrode and the third metallic thin film electrode.
 38. Thecardiopulmonary fitness estimating apparatus of claim 35, wherein thecardiopulmonary fitness index estimator calculates a heart rate from themeasured ECG signal at each unit time, calculates an amount of physicalactivity from the measured vibration signal at each unit time, extractsheart rate and amount of physical activity data in a period in which theheart rate increases from the calculated heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data, detects a linear regression equation between aheart rate and an amount of physical activity in which a period in whichthe heart rate increases using the extracted heart rate and amount ofphysical activity data, calculates a maximum activity energy expenditureusing the detected linear regression equation, and calculates maximaloxygen uptake (VO₂max) using the calculated maximum activity energyexpenditure and a pre-stored maximal oxygen uptake estimating regressionequation.
 39. A personal authentication apparatus comprising: afilm-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus for measuring anelectrocardiogram (ECG) signal and a ballistocardiogram (BCG) signalforming a plurality of metallic thin film electrodes on both sides of afilm-type piezoelectric element; and a personal authentication unit fordetermining whether a user is authenticated using the ECG signal and theBCG signal that are measured by the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus.
 40. The personal authentication apparatus of claim39, the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus comprising afirst circuit unit for measuring an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal fromat least two of the plurality of metallic thin film electrodes, and asecond circuit unit for measuring a ballistocardiogram (BCG) signal fromat least two of the plurality of metallic thin film electrodes.
 41. Thepersonal authentication apparatus of claim 40, wherein: the plurality ofmetallic thin film electrodes comprise at least two first metallic thinfilm electrodes formed on an attachment surface of the piezoelectricelement so as not to be electrically connected to each other, and asecond metallic thin film electrode formed on an opposite surface of thepiezoelectric element; the film-type biomedical signal measuringapparatus further comprises a film-type substrate with an adhesionsurface adhered to the opposite surface of the piezoelectric element; athird metallic thin film electrode is formed on a formation surface ofthe film-type substrate so as to be electrically connected to any one ofthe first metallic thin film electrodes; the first circuit unit isformed on the formation surface of the film-type substrate so as to beelectrically connected to remaining first metallic thin film electrodesexcept for the any one first metallic thin film electrode; and thesecond circuit unit is formed on the formation surface of the film-typesubstrate so as to be electrically connected to the second metallic thinfilm electrode and the third metallic thin film electrode.
 42. Thepersonal authentication apparatus of claim 39, wherein the personalauthentication unit determines whether the user is authenticated bycomparing an ECG fiducial value and a BCG fiducial value of anauthentication target, which are respectively detected from the ECGsignal and the BCG signal measured by the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus, with a pre-stored ECG fiducial value and BCGfiducial value of a registration target, respectively
 43. The personalauthentication apparatus of claim 39, wherein: the personalauthentication unit comprises a database unit for storing the ECGfiducial value and the BCG fiducial value of the registration target, adetector for detecting the ECG fiducial value from an ECG signal of theauthentication target measured by the first circuit unit and detectingthe BCG fiducial value from a BCG signal of the authentication targetmeasured by the second circuit unit, and an authentication processor fordetermining whether the user is authenticated by comparing the ECGfiducial value and the BCG fiducial value of the authentication targetdetected by the detector with the ECG fiducial value and the BCGfiducial value of the registration target stored in the database unit,respectively; the ECG fiducial value and the BCG fiducial value of theregistration target stored in the database unit are respectivelydetected from the ECG signal and the BCG signal that are initiallymeasured after the film-type biomedical signal measuring apparatus isattached to a skin of the registration target; and the ECG fiducialvalue and the BCG fiducial value of the authentication target detectedby the detector are detected from the ECG signal and the BCG signal ofthe registration target measured by the film-type biomedical signalmeasuring apparatus at a specific time for personal authentication.